Sickness

A few weeks ago when I went to get my prescriptions filled, I told Dani that we were going to pick up my medicines she responded in a sweet, concerned tone "you sick?". I tried to explain that some medicines are to keep you from getting sick, but I thought it was sweet that she was worried about me. She has been somewhat fascinated by the idea of being sick lately and what exactly that means.

Monday Dani saw an episode of Curious George where he got sick and then dreamed of going into his own mouth, then into his throat and then fought the germs. Unfortunately, I was out of the room when most of this episode was on and so I mostly know what happened from what I heard from the other room, and what she has described to me. Dani was fascinated by this particular episode and has been talking about it all week. It even gave us an opportunity to talk about where her throat is and she likes to point out everyone who has a throat, and that "you're throat in your neck", and how her food and drink goes down her throat when she eats.

Then on Tuesday Dani felt warm while I was putting her down for a nap. I took her temperature and she had a low grade fever, and other than seeming a little uncomfortable, she had no other symptoms. Eventually, I convinced her to let me give her medicine (Tylenol) to help her feel better. I admit, I did have to bribe her with a smoothie and make sure it was ready to give her as soon as her medicine was down, but she did fairly well. She mentioned while drinking the smoothie that "the smoovie fight the germs", it took me a little while to convince her that it was actually the medicine that was making her feel better, but she has reiterated several times since then that the "medicine fights the germs". She was very happy that night after the second (but last) dose for the day when I told her that she was all done with medicine. She was even more happy when she didn't have to take any medicine the next day because her fever was down and she was "not sick anymore".

Then last night as Trent was talking with Dani at bedtime, she mentioned her concerns for Mommy. She told him that Mommy is going to have to go to the hospital, that means Mommy is sick. She mentioned that she thought the baby in my tummy was making me sick because I am going to go to the hospital to have the baby. She was very concerned. There is so much to learn and it can be so overwhelming for such a little mind. I'm glad she's able to communicate the connections she is making so that hopefully we can ease the concerns as they come.